At Home for Good, we are passionate about raising awareness of supported lodgings – an often overlooked yet valuable option for young people. This provision offers a safe and supportive home with a host family or individual for those over 16, including young people leaving foster care, at risk of homelessness, or seeking asylum. We believe supported lodgings have significant potential to provide meaningful support for young people as they transition towards independence.

In October 2024, we published The Voices of Supported Lodgings – a groundbreaking report that captures the lived experiences of over 250 young people. The research was co-produced by three young people – William, Jess, and Bella – who brought their own insights and experiences to the project. Since its publication, they have led several high-profile seminars, including sessions in Parliament and with the National Children's Bureau, sharing both the findings of the report and their personal stories of living in supported lodgings.

The introduction of Ofsted regulation and inspections has brought about a major shift in the supported lodgings landscape, and in the wider category of supported accommodation, under which supported lodgings falls. These were introduced in 2024 and are intensifying in 2025. Many local authorities and independent providers have raised concerns about Ofsted inspectors’ limited understanding of the unique characteristics of supported lodgings and how this provision differs to other supported accommodation options.

That’s why we were so pleased when William, Jess, and Bella were invited to speak at Ofsted’s Supported Accommodation Inspectors Conference, addressing the entire inspection workforce across England. Held at the end of April 2025, their session offered a vital opportunity to close the knowledge gap and ensure that young people's voices are front and centre as inspections of supported lodgings begin.